shelor



F. L. -SHELOR.

TRAP 0R OVERFLOW JAR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.27,1920.

1,41 3 ,7 96. Patented Apr. 25, 1922..

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- I o '72 I 2 J 3 v 12 1 .Z

WITNESS INVENTOR.

' E L. SHEL on ATTORNEY.

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FREDERICK L. SHELOR, OF SALEM, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL FILLER CORPQP JATION, OF IETERSBURG. VIRGINIA, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

TBABOB, OVERFLOW JAB-,-

To all whom, it may concern: I

Be it known that I, FREDERICK L. SHELOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salem, in the county of Roanoke and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traps or Overflow Jars, and do hereby declarethe following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to traps or overflow iars intended particularly for use in apparatus for filling bottles and other vessels, such as disclosed in my copending applications Serial'No. 226,808 filed April 5, 1918, and Serial No. 238,503 filed June 6, 1918, although the device can be used for other purposes for which it is suited.

The trap or overflow jar is des1gned for use in an air conduit, such asthe conduit used in such apparatus leading from the .filler heads to the air pump, or the like, and.

is operable tor trapping or catching and collecting any liquid which may flow with the air into the air conduit, thereby arresting such liquid, in order to prevent the flow thereof to the pump and to also enable such liquid to be put to use instead of being wasted. The device is also constructed with two chambers or jars wherebythey can be alternated, one being discharged or emptied of its liquid contents, while the other in use to catch the liquid passing through the air conduit. This device is in general respects similar to the overflow jar or trap disclosed inmy previous Patent/No. 1244,5552, granted Ur -n36, 1919, but has improvements and ref finements which render the device more efficient and useful. I

'One of the objects make the device of a construction so that the parts thereof'through which the liquid flows can be made ofvarious mate ials, not

only including various metals, but also rub ber. glass, and the like, thereby enabling such'parts tobe made of rubber, glass or other material for the purposes of resisting corrosion or deterioration should the liquid handled contain acidor other injurious substances. In this Way, it is possible to construct the device of such material as will v resist the particular liquid handled, and the of the invention is to construction is such that it maybe conven icntly made of rubber, or glass as: well as of Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr, 25., 1922. I

Application. filed January 27, 1320. Serial -l To.' 35 4,433. i I i number of valves required, and'to simplify the construction, not only for purpose of economy and simplicity, but to also improve the operation, and enable the valves toibe made of various materials as above indicated. i

A further object; is to assemble theparts of the device in a novel and improved, yet simple and effective manner, whereby to enhance the utility and efliciency of the device.

A still further object is the provision of a novel construction of the air lnlet and outlet means, including a shield for the air inlet .toprevent particles of liquid passing through the air outlet, anda float-valve for closing the air outlet. With the foregoing andother objects in view, which will be apparent as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangementof parts hereinafter described and claimed, it being un-, derstood that changes can'be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an elevation of the device, with one ar, valve .and accompanying parts shown in vertical section. c

Fig. 2 is a bottomplan view of the device,

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail taken on the r The device comprises right and lett hand chambers, each ot which has a cylindrical base 1', which may be of a block ofsuitable metal. rubber. glass or other appropriate material, ACCQlICllI'lQlZO the liquid used, The bases 1 are provided in their upper ends with screw-threaded sockets 2 receiving the screw-threaded necks of'a pair of inverted glass jars 3, which, are conveniently used to provide the trap chambers having transpar-- ent walls whereby the parts therein as: well the liquid can be observed. Furthermore, these jars can be readily unscrewed from the bases, and removed for purposes'of cleaning, v Gaskets l are preferably provided between theshoulders of said.

rep airv or inspection.

jars and of the sockets l2fto prevent sages and 6 extending downwardly vertileakage. Each base 1 is provided with pascally from the bottom of the socket or recess 2 and extending angularly at their lower ends to opposite sides of the base, and said base has a vertical outlet passage or drain port '7 extending vertically between the passages 5 and 6 from the bottom of the socket 2 to the bottom of the base. Nipples 8 or other connections are threadedly or other wise engaged with the bases 1 in communication with'thelower endso't the passages 5, for the connection of tubes or hose 9 lead ing to an air pump or otherdevice tor drawing air .hrough the air conc uit, and nipples or pipe sections 10 are secured to the base 1 in communication, with the lower ends of the passages 6 and extend to a T-coupling 11 from which the pipe 12 extends to pass to the filler heads or other appliances, according to the use to which the device is put. A nipple or other connection 13 is threadedly or otherwise en aged with the lower end of each base 1 in communication with the lower end of the passage or port 7 for the connection of the tube or pipe 14 which willdeliver the liquid from the correspond ing chamber to a-suitable receptacle, which may be the tankor reservoir from which the liquid is drawn by the air suction for filling bottles or other vessels, or the like, as disclosed in pending applications above referred to, v

A single valve is mounted in each base 1 for controlling all three passages 5, 6 and 7, as well as admitting air from the atmosphere into the corresponding chamber under certain conditions, as will hereinafter more fully appear, and, for tiis purpose, each base 1 is provided with a horizontal dia metrical bore 15 extending therethrough and of taoered form with its largest end at that side of the base nearest the passage 6. This,

' bore '15 intersects each of the passages 5, 6

and 7,- and has fitted'therein a tapered or frusto-conical valve 16, which may be of 'metal, rubber, glass or other suitaljile material, the same as the base.

has. diametrical ports-1'7 and 18 adapted to register simultaneously with the passages 5 and. 6, and an intermediate diametrical port 19 at an angle with the ports 17 and 18 to register with thepassage 7 17 and 18 are moved out of. registration with the respective passages 5 and 6, so that the assages 5, 6 and the passage 7 are opened alternately when the valve is oscillated from oneposition to another. r

The passage 50f each base 1 is for the out-letcot' air from the chamber, the passage 6.71s tor the inlet 01 liquid and air, and the V passage 7. for the discharge of liquid from ,y gravity, and to admit air ]lf)1r\7l1611 the liquid is dis-- the valve 16 is provided. with a th e chamber to the cha L112} r W d Each valve 16 when the ports 7 channel 20 extending longitu'dinally'from its larger end to a point to communicate with the upper portion of the passage 6 when the valve 16 is turned to bringthe port 19 into tration with the passage 7. The outer end of the channel 20 communicates with the atn'iosphere, and the inner end has an angular extension 21 extending partially around the circumference of the valve close. to one end of the port18, as seen inFig. 3, whereby when the valve is turned from a position with the ports 17 and 18 in registration with'the respective passages 5 and 6 to a position with the port 19 'in registration with the passage 7, the extension 21 of the valve will be brought into registration with the upper portion of the passage 6 prior to the registration of the port 19 with the passage 7, for reasons hereinafter explained; Thus, when the 'iassage 6 is closed by the valve '16, the cha'nnel20 establishes communication between the upper portion of said passage and the atmosphere for the entrance oi air to relievethe vacuum in the chamber. The channel 20 of each valve therefore serves as an air inlet leading from the atmosphere, and the flow through the chaunel2O into the chamber is established and shut off at the same time as the flow of liquid through the passage 7, with the exception that the extension 21 of the channel 20 establishes the flow quicker through the channel 20 and maintains it longer than the flow through the passage 7 as the valve 16 is turned to establish and shut-oft such flow.

,As above indicated, the bases or blocks 1 and valves 16 can be made of various materials, and the valves can be ground and seated snugly Within the bores 15, providing a simple yet eflicient construction, using only a single valve in each base. The valves 16 are operated simultaneously, and, for this purpose, the bases 1 are in reversed positions with the larger endsof the bores 15 and valves 16 confronting one anotherr The larger ends of the valves have outstanding b0sses'22 and central recesses 23, and a single valve stem 24, common to both valves, has its opposite ends fitted within said recesses 23, The ends of the stem 24 are slotted, as at 25, so as to fit astride pins 26 inserted diametrically through the bosses 22 and recesses23, in order that the valves will.

valves are conveniently reversed. Coiled wire expansion springs 28 surround the stem or rod 24 and. are confined between the handle 27 and bosses 22- of the valves, whereby to separate the valves and force them against their seats under spring tension, to

maintain a tight fit between the valves and bases or blocks to avoid leakage.

In order to support the bases 1 they are of the apparatus, and clips 32 are secured to the plate 29 and pass under the pipe or support 31 for holding the plate thereon. In this way, the trap or jars can be mounted on a pipe constituting one of theconduits of the filling apparatus,and the'bases 1 being'secured to the plate 29 and will be held in place with the valves and spring means located between such bases. Two vertical tubes 33 and 34: are secured.

at their lower ends to each base l'within the socket 2 in communication with the upper ends of the respective passages 5 and 6, and extend upwardly to, a point near the upper end of the corresponding jar 3, the'tube 343 thus leading the air and liquid upwardly to discharge intothe chamber, and the tube 33 withdrawing the'air from the upper portion ofthe chamber. This is for the purpose of avoiding the flow of air, eitherinto the chamber or out of same, through the liquid, thereby avoiding unnecessary agitation as would result by the flow of airtherethrough. A yoke member '35 extends over the upper ends of said tubes 33 and 34C, and is secured on the'upper end of the tube 33 which supports it, said member having a passage 36 in communication with'the upper end of said tube 33 and leading to a nipple 37 depending from said yoke between said tubes through which the air leaves the upper portion of the chamber. A sleeve 38 is secured-at its upper end within the yoke member 35 and depends therefrom loosely around the upperterminal of the pipe'3 l, thereby providing a shield and baffle to prevent particles of liquid passing from the tube 34:

into thetube' This shield'or baffle serves to prevent the passage oflliquid with'the air into the upper end ofthetube 33by compelling the air and liquid to flow downwardly from said sleeve 38-'along the'tube' 34. The sleeve 38, however, has a restricted aperture 39 adjacent to the upper end of the tube 34 at that side opposite to thenipple 37 and tube 33 for the restricted flow of air therethrough, should the liquid level within the chamber rise tojor ofthe sleeve. I a

"In order to automatically shut off the flow of air and liquid'into the chamber when the chamber becomes filled up to a predeter mined level, below'zthe upper ends'of the tubes 33 and -3l,a float lll'is movable vertig c5 cally between said tubes, and has slots l-'1 above the lower end and 42 receiving the tube 33 and sleeve 38. whereby they serve as, guides for saidfloat. The float may be of cork or other buoyant material and carries a valve 43 at its upper end to seat against the nipple37 when the float is raised, thereby closing the air outlet.

A wire or other'suitable stop 44: is secured onthetube 33 to support the float-when it is lowered and to limit the downward movement of the float, whereby the float supported at asl'ightdistance below its uppermost-position'when the liquid level in the chamber is below the maximum allowed.

This avoids unnecessary excessive movement of the-float, and, furthermore, it is main-'- tained in a position ready; for operation when the liquid level rises to the maximum height permitted, so as to seat the valve 43 and prevent further entrance of liquid,

thereby avoidingthe overflow of liquid into theair out-let tube 33 as" would be objec tionable as it would negative the device. 4 a I The operation of the trap is as follows; Supposing that the handle 27 is moved to bring the valves 16 to the position-as shown the function of v in Fig; 1, then the passages 5 "and 61 of i the right hand chamber will -be openedand the passages 5 and 6 of the'l'eft hand chamber closed, while the passage 7 of the righthand ehamberis close'd and the passage Y 7 of the left hand chamber opened. This air is therefore withdrawn from the/right hand chamber and right hand pipe or tube 10, while the fiow of air through the left hand chamber is shut off. lhe liquid can drain from the left -handchamber through the passage 9, and air is'admitted through the channel'20 and tube 34. The right hand chamber is n'owin ope'rationto trap or catch the liquid. 'Any liquid whichpasses with the air through the righthand 1 tube 1.0, will flow up through the tube 34 and down the sleeve 38-into the chamber, wherein the liquid drops randwis trapped."

Theparticles of liquid. drop tofthe bottom of the chamber, whereas the air passes; on out, flowing upwardly within the nipple 37f and'down through the tube. 33; and

passage 5 intothe nipple or tube 9. Thus;

any liquid passing with the air as 'far as the chamber, will be trappedwithin the' chamber. thereby separating it from the air and preventing the} liquid passing'to the pump, as well as 'cat'chlng the liquidso 7 that it can be used. Shouldthe liquidin the right hand jar fill the same tOQEUlVBl near the upper end of-the tubes 33 and 34-,

this will raise the float 40, so as to seat thevalve 43 against the nipple 37, thereby preventing further flow of air out -of-and liquid into the chamber, and preventing the overflow of the 'liquid into "the air' outlet.

tube 34 Thus, should theioperator fail to alternate' the device by swinging the 7 the sleeve or shield 38 in the event that the liquid closes the lower end of the sleeve, which, without the provision of the aperture 39, would result in the liquid column being forced down within the sleeve and the liquid agitated. The aperture, however, lets the air escape and prevents such agitation of the liquid within the sleeve. The operator, can, at any time, re-

verse the valves 16 by swinging'the handle 27,- so that when the right hand jar is filled, the operator in swinging the handle 27 to its other position will reverse the position oi the valvesirom that shown in Fig. 1. The passages 5 and 6 of the right hand chamber would now be closed, and

the passage 7 opened and during such movement'o'f the righthand valve,the channel 20 is brought into registration with the lower end of the tube 34, thus admitting air into the chamber so that the liquid can drain out through theipassage 7, the float 4-0 dropping away from'the nipple 37 and seating on the stop 44-. Due to the angular extension 21 of the channel 20, said channel will be brought into communication with the tube 34 before the port 19 registers with the passage 7, thereby admitting air into the chamber-to relieve the partial vacuum therein, before the passage 7 is opened,lfor otherwise, air would be drawn upwardly through the passage 7 and would bubble up through the liquid, agitating same to an objectionable extent. By first admitting air through the tube 3l, this brings the air in the upper portion of the chamber to atmospheric pressure, so that l the liquid will drain out without any bub bling or agitation. The reversal of the valves will set the left hand valves 16 so that the passages 5 and 6 are opened and the passage 7 closed, thereby the air now flows through the left hand jar which serves to catch the liquid, while the right hand jar is being emptied and prepared to resume its duty as soon as the left handv jar is filled and the'valves reversed back to the position shown in Fig, 1.

Not only can the bases'l and valves 16 be made of various materials, such as metal,

rubber, glass and the like, but the tubes 88 and 34, yoke members 35 and sleeves 38 can also be of such materials, in order that the parts of the device throughv which the of air out of" tured by either moulding, turning orother operation, according to the material of which they are made. Having thusdescribed the invention, what isolaimed as new is: v 3 V 1. A trap comprising a pair of chambers each having a base of suitable material provided with a liquid inletpassage, an air passage, and a liquid outlet passage, a single valve of suitable material inserted in each base forclosing saidpassages, and having m ans for alternately opening the liquid out-i 'let passage and liquid inlet and air outlet passages, and also having means for admitting air into the chamber whenthe liquid outlet passage is opened, and means connected to both valves for alternating them.

2. A trap comprising a chamber having base of suitable material provided with a liquid inlet passage, an air outlet passage, and a liquid outlet passage, said base having a bore intersecting said passages, a single valve for each base inserted in and rotatable in said bore thereof for closing said passagesand having ports so arranged to alternately open the liquid outlet passage and the liquid inlet and airoutlet passages, said valve also having means for admitting the air into the chamber when the-liquid-outlet passage is open, and'means connected to both valves for alternating them.

3. A trap comprising a chamber having a base provided with a liquid inletpassage, an air outlet passage, a liquid outlet passage, and a bore intersecting said passages, and a valve fitted for rotation within said here to close said passages and having ports arranged to alternately open the liquid outlet passage and the liquid inlet and air outlet passages, said valve having a channel. communicating with the atmosphere and arranged to' register with the upper portion of the air inlet passage when the liquid outlet passage is opened. I 4

4. A trap comprising a pair of chambers each having a base provided with a liquid inlet passage, anair outlet passage, and a liquid outlet passage, a valve mounted in each base for closing the passages and having means for alternating opening the liquid outlet passage and liquid inlet and air outlet passages, and operating means connected to both valves for simultaneously operating them, said valves having meansforadrhitting air into the respective chambers when the corresponding liquid outlet passages are opened. Y

5. A trap comprising a pairor" chambers each having a-base provided with air and liquid passages,;a rotary valve mounted in,

each base for controlling the flow of air and liquid, and an oscillatory stem having its opposite ends engaging the valves for simultaneously turning them.

6. A trap comprising a pair of chambers each having a base provided with air and liquid passages and a tapered bore intersecting said passages, a tapered valve fitted within each bore and having means for opening said passages, the larger ends of the valves being disposed toward one another, and means located between the valves and engaging the larger ends thereof for turning the valves simultaneously and separating them to seat them within the bores.

7. A trap comprising a pair of chambers each having a base provided with air and liquid passages and a tapered bore intersecting said passages, tapered valves fitting within said bores and having means for controlling said passages, the larger ends of the Valves being disposed toward one another, an oscillatory valve stem common to both valves and having its opposite ends engaged with the larger ends of the valves, and spring means on said stem for separating the valves to seat them within said bores.

8. A trap comprising a chamber, upstanding inlet and outlet tubes within the chambers, a member secured. to the upper end of the outlet tube and having a depending nipple communicating with said tube, and a float movable vertically between the tubes and having a valve seatable upwardly against said nipple. v

9. A trap comprising a chamber, upstanding inlet and outlet tubes therein, and a sleeve depending over the upper terminal of the inlet tube and serving as a shield.

10. A trap comprising a chamber, upstanding inlet and outlet tubes therein, and a sleeve depending over the upperterminal of the inlet tube to serve as a shield, and provided near the upper end of said tube with a restricted aperture.

11. A trap comprising a chamber, inlet and outlet tubes upstanding within said chamber, a member secured to the upper end of the outlet tube and having a depending nipple communicating therewith, a sleeve determinal of the inlet tube to serve as a shield, and a float movable between the outlet tube pending from said member over the upper and sleeve and having a valve seat-able against said nipple.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my Witnesses HERBERT ROGERS, F. C. SoHoFmLo. 

